Seven Suspects Charged in Mississauga Home Invasion That Turned Deadly
Peel Regional Police have announced the arrest of seven individuals in connection with a violent home invasion robbery that escalated into a homicide in Mississauga. The incident, which occurred in the early morning hours of October 1, 2024, resulted in the tragic death of 55-year-old homeowner Ruo Zhao Wei.
A Robbery Gone Tragically Wrong
According to police investigators, the suspects allegedly believed they would find a substantial amount of money inside the high-end residence located near Square One in Mississauga. Detective Sergeant Davis Baxter of the Homicide Squad described the situation succinctly: "It went sideways." What began as a planned robbery quickly turned deadly when gunfire erupted during the confrontation.
During the violent encounter, Ruo Zhao Wei was fatally shot and later succumbed to his injuries in hospital. Two other family members were also shot during the incident but survived with non-life-threatening injuries. Police confirmed that all gunfire originated from the suspects, who fled the scene in a white Volkswagen Atlas vehicle.
Complex Investigation Leads to Multiple Arrests
The investigation proved to be particularly challenging for Peel Regional Police, requiring extensive resources and coordination across multiple jurisdictions. Deputy Chief Nick Milinovich praised the investigative team's efforts, noting that "what began as a violent home invasion quickly evolved into a complex homicide investigation."
Key to the breakthrough was the identification of the white Volkswagen Atlas, which provided investigators with their first substantial lead. Over the following 14 months, police conducted extensive canvassing covering more than 80 kilometres, performed forensic analysis, and obtained judicial authorizations to piece together the events of that night.
The investigation received additional support from the Criminal Intelligence Service Ontario (CISO), funded by the Ontario Government and Ministry of the Solicitor General, which contributed to the successful resolution of the case.
Charges and Suspect Details
The seven individuals now face serious charges in connection with the homicide:
- Sonam Wangchuk, 25, Muhammad Rahimullah, 21, and Tenzin Lama, 21 have each been charged with second-degree murder and attempted murder using a firearm.
- Kang Lu, 69, Kwok Chik, 65, and Xi Chen, 64 face manslaughter charges.
- Tenzin Jungney, 21 has been charged with multiple firearm-related offenses including unauthorized possession of a firearm, knowledge of unauthorized possession of firearm, careless storage of firearm, unauthorized possession of a prohibited device, and possession of property obtained by crime.
All seven suspects remain in custody awaiting court dates and potential bail hearings. Police have emphasized that these charges have not yet been tested in court.
Victim's Background and Family Appeal
Ruo Zhao Wei was known in the community as one of the owners of Ocean's Grocery store. The victim had previously been in the public spotlight approximately 13 years earlier when his wife, 40-year-old Fang Lin, went missing under mysterious circumstances in York Region. Despite an extensive investigation at that time, her disappearance remains unsolved.
Police have indicated they do not believe the wife's disappearance is connected to the recent home invasion homicide. Investigators maintain that the primary motive for the crime appears to have been financial gain through robbery.
In the aftermath of the tragedy, the victim's family issued a heartfelt appeal to the public for assistance, describing themselves as "devastated by this senseless and heartbreaking act." They urged anyone with information, no matter how seemingly insignificant, to come forward to help bring those responsible to justice.
The family's plea for justice has now been partially answered with the arrests, though the legal process continues to unfold as the case moves through the court system.
